vrijdag 16 januari 2015

Les Andalouses

LES ANDALOUSES

It is a
complete surprise to find next after the Portus Divini an almost fully equipped
Phoenician/Punic/Berber settlement on a spot that is not so favourable at all. Why
did the Phoenicians make or took over on this bay between the CapeFalcon
and the CapeLindless this settlement with no
significant harbour. It is true: there are some little islands in front of it: IslePlane
and the islesHabibas. They were visited by the
Phoenicians, because one has found Campanian pottery here from the 6th
century BC. A large settlement however was developed on the coast on both sides
of the mouth of the Oued Sidi Hamadi. The reason why maybe the favourable
agricultural possibilities, that were already exploited by the indigenous
population. The site of Les Andalouses is located at the fertile plain some 30
km to the west of Oran.

It was
identified by Ps.Skylax (111) as Mes in the 4th century BC and in
the Itinenario Antonius as Castra Puerorum, XVIII miles west of Portus Divini.
If Mes is the same as Mής, then it could mean in Greek: to suck. Les Andalouses
becomes: City of the sucking child? Castra Puerorum can be translated as Camp
of the Children.

Necropoli.

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There are
several cemeteries found. The necropolis of the east contains graves from the 4th-2nd
century BC. Here we encounter different funeral rites and structures with
dominant Iberian influences. To the west on the right side of the Oued Sidi
Hamadi the tumuli are containing Punic findings from the 6th century
BC.

Settlement.

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Between
these two cemeteries lies the Punic town of about 3 hectares in surface. It has
a rectangular plan. The houses are built on stretched stones of tuff mingled
with earth. The use of windows was known. The population is for a part
indigenous with a strong Punic influence. Maybe it is better to speak of
Liby-Phoenicians?

This list
is far from complete. An incredible amount of material has been found by
G.Vuillemot. See: Reconnaissances aux échelles punique d’Oranie, Autun 1965 and
Vestiges puniques aux Andalouses, BSGAO 1951.

There are
separated quarters of the settlement:

Mingeonnet.

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Houses next
to the sea. In the excavation here are 7 strata distinguishable.

1.Roman
walls and Italic amphorae (2nd cent.BC)

2.Destroyed
house

3.Punic
walls of unpolished stones and pottery

4.Punic
amphorae and fars

5.Ash-layer

6.beginning
of the settlement (end 4th cent.BC)

7.virgin
soil on 8.70 meters depth

Tassa.

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A late
settlement (2nd-1st century BC).

We find
here millstones, an oil press and mostly craft equipment and buildings.

Les
Andalouses lived mostly on cattle-breeding (cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats)
and agriculture (grain and wine). For trade there were strong connections with
the Iberian Peninsula.

The Romans
came here only for a short period. They made a small settlement on the left
bank of the Oued Sidi Hamadi. The settlements were abandoned by the end of the
1st cent. BC. One can only guess for what reason and where did they
go? Why giving up such a fertile region?
Just a castle remains here: Castrum Puerorum. We don’t know the
Phoenician/Punic name for this location, but there is a big chance it has to do
something with children.